SHARE THE MUSIC: Students from the Toll Gate Chorale, Show Choir and Jazz Ensemble take a break from rehearsals to pose with music teachers Ricco Royster and George Landrie outside the auditorium. The groups will perform in the Share the Music Concert at the school tonight. The free concert is part of an alternating concert series with West Warwick High

Tonight, Toll Gate High School will host the Share the Music Concert, featuring the Toll Gate Chorus, Chorale and Show Choir, under the direction of Ricco Royster, the Toll Gate Stage Band and Jazz Ensemble, both under the direction of George Landrie, and the West Warwick Jazz Band, under the direction of Metro Narcisi. The concert will focus on American music, featuring jazz, rock and pop from the 1930s to the 2000s.

Following tonight’s performance, Toll Gate students will return the favor and perform at a concert hosted by West Warwick High School at a later date. The Share the Music concert series was started by Royster and Narcisi, who worked together as professional musicians performing throughout New England before entering the teaching field. The pair has been holding Share the Music concerts for the past five years, and they hope it grows.

“My hope is to turn it into a music festival with the top music directors from around the state and students that really excel,” Royster said, adding that his goal is to teach the authenticity of music. “The hope is that some [students] will become teachers, some will become performers and some will just do it for fun.”

Tonight’s free concert will be in the auditorium of the Robert J. Shapiro Arts Center at Toll Gate High School, 575 Centerville Rd., Warwick. Doors open at 6:40 and the show starts at 7 p.m.